Naveen Joshi
The biggest attraction in Ranotsav is the overnight stay in Kutch Bhunga, like when someone who has gone to Srinagar asks, 'Did you stay in 'Shikara'?', those who have gone to Kerala say, 'Houseboat' is a different kind of fun. Similarly, mud flats in Kutch are proving to be a peaceful abode for those overwhelmed by materialism. This is the matter of soil-soil and this body of ours is also called soil, maybe because soil has more attraction of soil, this bhunga is gaining popularity and becoming an identity or synonym of Kutch in pictures. For those who have not yet enjoyed the luxury of this clay dwelling, today we will talk about some special features. Bhungas in Kutch are now becoming a tourist point, but the presence and diverse work of these Bhungas in Banni area has been going on for centuries. From Hodko, Dhordo to Ugmani-Athmani, the issue of land ownership is complicated in Banni, just as in the cities four-wheelers and cabins with leaves are pushed in the name of business, as construction is not allowed in Banni, the forefathers used this patch of grass and soil to escape from drought, heat and rain. Today, the demand for the same Jugad Panch Sitara hotels has been good. According to the details learned from Salam Halepotra of Hodko, Mia Hussain Gulbeg of Dhordo, Kaladhar Mutwa of Gorewali and late Jumma Ghulam Raishi of Bhirandiyara, the structure of Bhunga is centered on nature in such a way that the laws of Vastu Shastra automatically come into it. The landlords of Banni do not know about Vastupurush and do not believe, nor should they believe, but those people know, learn and implement from generation to generation based on the resourcefulness of wind direction, connection with earth, height, importance of windows and how to decorate inside. The most surprising thing is that, for so many years, there is no mistake anywhere. None of the plots have yet been declared useless, proved unsightly or declared uninhabitable. A house means four walls… this phrase is proved wrong in Banni because the clay mound is round in shape, architecturally this construction may or may not be certified by an engineer but nature has given the certificate. Even storms, earthquakes, extreme heat and extreme heat do not affect this bhunga, it stays cool in summer and warm in winter, even rainwater blows the bhunga. From the sticky clay of Bhunga, the now world-famous mudworks are being created. This mudwork is not new to Bhunga, as it has been an art form associated with Bhunga for years. Without any major tape measure, glass-mirror, straight-line carving-like designs enhance the beauty of Bhunga. Maji Khan Mutwa of seniors has reached from the mudwork of Bhunga to the mudwork of Rashtrapati Bhavan and the business of Amazon. Consider it the strength of soil, Kasabi's or Bunny's? A mixture of camel dung and very finely chopped grass in a very buttery soil, now chemical adzeel is also added at some places to prevent cracks, the roof of this bhunga is also covered with grass. This grass called 'Kal' is as tall as Mathoda and as it grows in water and has the strength to stand in saline water, the rainwater does not cross it but flows down. The walls of this Bhunga are also continuously strengthened by clay-mud plastering. The beholder is also mesmerized when this immersion takes place in a semi-circular design. The floor below, the walls above, and the plasterer's hands move with such finesse, speed, that the lines of the hands seem to lengthen or shorten through the soil. Acacia wood is also used above to hide the wood in the soil to make walls and walls. The smell of wet soil in the first rains rises in such a bhunga. The mudwork now contains water, holes and windows in the walls to allow air to flow in and out. Also, the carvings of dhaja-kalash and chakla-parrot, archways look beautiful around it. In order to increase the life span of this Bhunga, the residents have to be constantly striving and active. You have to make payments from time to time. From Bhirandiyara to Dhordo in Banni, the eyes of many inquisitors and the brains of engineers wander in these Bhungas for the four months of Ranotsav. To see, to know that the uneducated have such an artistic creation?
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
